Russia will never leave this region [Южного Кавказа], since it is located in this region. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated this during a speech at the international forum on the topic “COP29 and Green Vision for Azerbaijan”.
Ilham Aliyev commented on Russia’s role in the South Caucasus region. “I think all countries of the South Caucasus should be interested in having good relations with Russia, based on mutual respect, sovereignty, territorial integrity and mutual interest,” said the Azerbaijani leader.
Aliyev noted that he also discussed this issue with his Russian colleague. “We managed to develop a format of cooperation that is mutually beneficial,” he explained. “It is possible to protect your sovereignty, independence and pursue an independent policy while remaining on good terms with Russia.”
The President of Azerbaijan emphasized the importance of cooperation with Russia in various fields, including the economy, transport and humanitarian areas. He recalled that there are more than 300 Russian schools in Azerbaijan.
At the same time, the head of state warned Armenia against attempts to become a “candidate for a global confrontation” between the West and Russia. “This could be a disaster. And those who today promise them final support will run away with the first shots at the border. I am absolutely sure of this,” Aliyev said.
Aliyev also criticized the “binocular diplomacy” of what he called “the so-called European peace watchers” towards Azerbaijan.
Ilham Aliyev confirmed that the path to security and stability in the region lies through the normalization of relations with Armenia. But for this, he said, Armenia must renounce territorial claims, including removing references to “Nagorno-Karabakh” from the Constitution. “How can we sign a peace agreement if they have such a clause in the Constitution?” — the President of Azerbaijan asked himself.
“When I say they need to change their Constitution, it is not arrogance or rudeness on my part. No, this is a precondition,” the President of Azerbaijan emphasized.
Aliyev also believes that Armenia should change its national emblem, which depicts Mount Agrydag. “They have many mountains in Armenia, let them choose another one if they want,” Aliyev said.
“This, I believe, is the greatest tragedy of Armenian society; that they really thought that they could separate this part of Turkey and annex it to Armenia,” Ilham Aliyev concluded.
